Someone besides their teachers will be watching this week as moms and dads drop off or pick up children at north Scarborough schools.

Toronto police officers from 42 Division and the city’s traffic officers are willing to teach drivers some lessons, if necessary, during a week-long safety blitz they say is “in response to community complaints from parents, school officials and crossing guards.”

Project Common Sense started Monday, Nov. 19, morning with police targetting traffic around St. Sylvester Catholic School and Silver Springs Public School, both on Silver Springs Boulevard.

An online release from 42 Division, which covers Scarborough north of Hwy. 401, said the blitz will cover 35 different elementary schools.

Teams of police and traffic officers this week will be at a minimum of four schools each day in the morning or afternoon, added Steve McGowan, Scarborough’s traffic supervisor, who said he gets “at least a dozen to two dozen complaints a week” about driving habits around local schools.

Traffic officers urge parents to “choose safety over convenience,” said McGowan suggesting better trip planning and leaving a few minutes earlier could help moms and dads avoid the urge to break the rules.

“The busiest time (in front of a school) is the one minute before the school bell rings,” he said Monday.